Collect sample in appropriate times of the year:

• Fall through the dormant season is the best time for detecting many of the  grapevine viruses
• Spring and early summer is the ideal time for sampling if nepoviruses (GFLV, ToRSV) are the culprits
• Fungal pathogens can be sampled and detected throughout the year

Sampling for Grapevine Viruses

•If sampling from individual vines, identify 2-4 canes from different locations on a vine. Viruses are unevenly distributed, so by taking samples from different parts of the vine, you maximize chances of including the virus in the sample. Cut 4-6 inch-long portions from the base of the canes and place these cuttings in a zip-lock bag. If sampling fresh shoots or petioles, change gloves and wash your sampling tools between each vine (water and Chlorox wipes).

•If taking composite samples, take two (2) cuttings per vine, and repeat this from five different vines.
Do not submit more than 10 cuttings per sample. 

•For virus testing on the rooted nursery vines, please cut off the root-portion on the vines, approximately 4 inches below the graft union or the top of the vines). Discard the roots. You may use up to 10 nursery vines per sample.

•Place each sample into its own plastic bag and label the bag using your own identifiers. Proper labeling will help you identify the vine and match it with the corresponding test results. Please note: paper bags actually increase the rate of desiccation, so please use plastic bags without any paper towels around the sample.

•Include a sample submission form with your contact information. The forms are available in our website: www.allcropsolutions.com.

•If sampling in summer, keep samples cool with blue ice packs. Make sure the ice does not touch your samples by wrapping the ice packs with paper. Ship them overnight to preserve the integrity of your sampled material.

Sampling guidelines may vary depending on the purpose of testing

• For detection of bacterial and fungal diseases, take sample from symptomatic parts of the vine. Graft union, crown and roots should be included in the sample suspected for vine decline disease and Agrobacterium.
• For detection of viruses, ideal sample is taken from individual symptomatic plants (See Figure above). Sampling from different sites of the same vine increases chances of detection since the pathogen propagules are not evenly distributed within a vine.  Mature canewood is good material throughout the year.  For spring-time nepovirus tests, young shoot tips can be collected.
• For virus screens in propagation material, follow the above sampling guidelines for virus testing.
• For virus testing on the rooted nursery vines, please cut off the root-portion on the vines, approximately 4 inches below the graft union or the top of the vines). Discard the roots. You may use up to 10 nursery vines per sample.